Advance copy
TD
UNITED
NATIONS
United Nations
Conference
on Trade and
Development
Distr.
GENERAL
TD/B(S-XIX)/PREP/4
16 April 2002
Original: ENGLISH
TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD
REPORT OF THE THIRD MEETING OF THE
MID-TERM REVIEW PROCESS
Geneva, 25 - 28 March 2002
CONTENTS
Chapter
I.
Review of the efficiency and functioning of the intergovernmental
machinery...........................................................................................................
II.
2
Stocktaking in respect of the implementation of the commitments
and work programme agreed to in the Bangkok Plan of Action ....................
III.
Page
4
Preparations for the interactive debates and policy dialogue
in the context of opportunities and challenges of new policy
developments of importance since UNCTAD X .............................................
6
IV.
Closing statement ..............................................................................................
7
V.
Organizational matters ......................................................................................
8
Attendance......................................................................................................................
10
Annex
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Chapter I
REVIEW OF THE EFFICIENCY AND FUNCTIONING OF THE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL MACHINERY
(Agenda item 2)
1.
For its consideration of this item, the meeting had before it the following
documentation:
“Informal Chairperson’s paper dated 22 March 2002”.
Informal meetings
2.
Consideration of this item took place in informal meetings.
Closing plenary
3.
At the closing plenary, on 28 March 2002, the representative of the Dominican
Republic, speaking in his capacity as Chairperson of the pillar of the Mid-term Review on
the intergovernmental machinery, said that, in spite of the flexibility and dedication shown by
all, it had not been possible to reach consensus on the issue of the intergovernmental
machinery, and a number of key issues remained to be resolved. The annex to the latest
informal text dealt with the financing of experts and contained a number of elements
necessary for a solution to the issue. The latest informal text would be distributed and serve
as a basis for further consultations in April.
Action by the Board
4.
At its closing plenary meeting, on 28 March, the Board decided to hold informal
consultations during the period 8-16 April with the aim of completing the work on the
intergovernmental machinery before the meeting in Bangkok. In view of the unavailability of
Ambassador Cuello (Dominican Republic) during the period in question, the Board requested
Ambassador Ali (Bangladesh) to chair the informal consultations.
Closing statements
5.
The representative of Peru, speaking on behalf of the Latin American and
Caribbean Group, said that, notwithstanding the great efforts made by all delegations during
the present review, the lack of progress on several substantive issues contained in the text on
the intergovernmental machinery was frustrating. It was the understanding of his Group that
negotiations must be finished before the Bangkok meeting and that the text was a package
and a “single undertaking”, so that nothing was approved until everything had been approved.
In the annex to the latest version of the text, the reference to “bearing in mind particularly the
needs of LDCs” should be between square brackets because it was a new addition that had
not even been discussed during the informal meetings and might compromise the need to
ensure balanced participation of all developing countries at UNCTAD meetings. With regard
TD/B(S-XIX)/PREP/4
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to the main text, the question of lack of financing for the implementation of paragraph 166 of
the Bangkok Plan of Action should be dealt with and included as a separate point. With
regard to the regular sessions of the Board, there should be a standing agenda item providing
for an analysis of the new challenges faced by developing countries, including inter alia the
follow-up to the Doha Meeting.
6.
The representative of Egypt, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China,
expressed concern about the progress being made on the intergovernmental machinery. His
Group was keen to pursue work on the basis of what had been achieved so far.
7.
The representative of Sri Lanka, speaking on behalf of the Asian Group and China,
said that the text on the intergovernmental machinery was a package and must therefore be
accepted in its entirety, not in a piecemeal fashion.
8.
The representative of Uganda, speaking on behalf of the African Group, said that
the annex to the text on the intergovernmental machinery, dealing with the financing of
experts, represented an important achievement.
9.
The representative of Bangladesh, speaking on behalf of the LDCs, welcomed the
fact that it had been possible to resolve the issue concerning the treatment of LDC issues in
the Board.
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Chapter II
STOCKTAKING IN RESPECT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
COMMITMENTS AND WORK PROGRAMME AGREED TO IN THE BANGKOK
PLAN OF ACTION
(Agenda item 3)
10.
For its consideration of this item, the meeting had before it the following
documentation:
“Programme assessment for 2000-2001: Note by the UNCTAD secretariat” (TD/B(SXIX)/L.1);
“Stocktaking in respect of the implementation of the commitments and work
programme agreed to in the Bangkok Plan of Action: Second preliminary and
incomplete working draft – 12 March 2002”.
Informal meetings
11.
Consideration of this item took place in informal meetings.
Closing plenary
12.
The representative of the United Kingdom, speaking in her capacity as Chairperson
of the pillar of the Mid-term Review on stocktaking, said that discussions on the stocktaking
pillar had been completed. However, the process as a whole had not yet been completed, and
a final draft would be circulated for comments, which should be made by 4 April.
13.
The representative of Peru, speaking on behalf of the Latin American and
Caribbean Group, said that the outcome of the stocktaking pillar would be “noted” by the
Board and not “adopted”, and that should be made clear in the agenda and programme. With
regard to the latest working draft, his Group had difficulties with paragraphs 20 and 34 on the
implementation of paragraph 166 of the Bangkok Plan of Action, and it would like the views
it had expressed during the discussions to be duly reflected.
14.
The representative of Sri Lanka, speaking on behalf of the Asian Group and China,
expressed appreciation for the transparency of the stocktaking exercise and the balance
achieved in the resulting text.
15.
The representative of Uruguay said that the stocktaking text did not reflect the views
of his and other delegations on the implementation of paragraph 166 of the Bangkok Plan of
Action. His delegation would be providing comments and suggestions in that connection. The
paper on stocktaking should indicate that it was a Chairperson’s paper.
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16.
The representative of Uganda, speaking on behalf of the African Group, said that
the stocktaking document was balanced, and that balance should be maintained in the final
version.
17.
The representative of Spain, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that the
EU would be submitting comments on the text so that the final outcome would get even
greater support.
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Chapter III
PREPARATIONS FOR THE INTERACTIVE DEBATES AND POLICY DIALOGUE
IN THE CONTEXT OF OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF NEW POLICY
DEVELOPMENTS OF IMPORTANCE SINCE UNCTAD X
(Agenda item 4)
18.
The representative of Thailand, speaking in his capacity as Chairperson for the pillar
of the Mid-term Review on the interactive debates and policy dialogue, said that an unedited
issues paper prepared by the UNCTAD secretariat to provide the catalyst for the round tables
in Bangkok would be circulated immediately, and there would be a brainstorming based on it
on 5 April. In Bangkok, the round tables would be attended by a number of ministers, but all
delegations would be invited to participate.
19.
There followed a presentation by Thailand, as the host country, on Bangkok and
Thailand.
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Chapter IV
CLOSING STATEMENT
20.
The Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD said that the Mid-term Review was
extremely important for the secretariat because of the guidance it provided. The document
that had emerged from the stocktaking pillar represented an excellent statement of progress
achieved and future areas of emphasis, and he was in no way discouraged by the fact that
agreement had not yet been reached on the pillar on the intergovernmental machinery.
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Chapter V
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
A. Opening of the meeting
21.
The third meeting of the Mid-term Review process was opened on 25 March 2002 at
the Palais des Nations, Geneva, by Mr. Toufik Ali (Bangladesh), Vice-President of the Board.
B. Officers
22.
The officers of the Board were as elected at the forty-eighth session of the Board, as
follows:
President:
Mr. Ali Said Mchumo (United Republic of Tanzania)
Vice-Presidents:
Mr. Iouri Afanassiev (Russian Federation)
Mr. Toufik Ali (Bangladesh)
Mr. Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo (Dominican Republic)
Mr. Douglas M. Griffiths (United States of America)
Mrs. Eleanor M. Fuller (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland)
Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul (Thailand)
Mr. Nathan Irumba (Uganda)
Mr. Toshiyuki Iwado (Japan)
Mr. Kalman Petocz (Slovakia)
Mr. Jacques Scavee (Belgium)
Rapporteur:
Mr. Federico Perazza Scapino (Uruguay)
C. Adoption of the agenda and organization of work
23.
At the opening meeting, the agenda was adopted, as follows:
1.
Adoption of the agenda and organization of work
2.
Review of the efficiency and functioning of the intergovernmental machinery
3.
Stocktaking in respect of the implementation of the commitments and work
programme agreed to in the Bangkok Plan of Action
4.
Preparations for the interactive debates and policy dialogue in the context of
opportunities and challenges of new policy developments of importance since
UNCTAD X
5.
Other business
6.
Adoption of the report
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D. Adoption of the report
24.
At the closing plenary meeting, on 28 March 2002, the Board authorized the
Rapporteur to prepare and finalize the report in the light of the proceedings of the closing
plenary.
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Annex
ATTENDANCE ∗
1.
The following States members of UNCTAD were represented at the meeting:
Argentina
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Brazil
Bulgaria
China
Croatia
Cuba
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Germany
Guinea
Haiti
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
∗
For the list of participants, see TD/B(S-XIX)/PREP/INF.3.
Latvia
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Madagascar
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Morocco
Nepal
Netherlands
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Portugal
Republic of Korea
Russian Federation
Senegal
Singapore
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Switzerland
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
United States of America
Viet Nam
Zimbabwe
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2.
The following States members of UNCTAD were represented as observers at the
meeting:
Botswana
Djibouti
3.
The following intergovernmental organizations were represented at the meeting:
African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States
Arab Labour Organization
European Community
International Textiles and Clothing Bureau
Organization of African Unity
4.
The following specialized agencies and related organizations were represented
at the meeting:
International Monetary Fund
Universal Postal Union
United Nations Development Organization
5.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Trade Center
UNCTAD/WTO were represented at the meeting.
6.
The following non-governmental organizations were represented at the meeting:
General Category
Exchange and Cooperation Centre for Latin America
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
Special Category
International Multimodal Transport Association